June 23, 2005

MEDIA ADVISORY

CONGRESSMAN TODD AKIN TO HOLD ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON DIFFICULTIES FACING NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVISTS DURING DEPLOYMENT

WHAT:	Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO), member of the House Armed Services Committee and Chairman of the Small Business Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform and Oversight, will hold a roundtable discussion on the difficulty of maintaining a small business or professional practice when deployed as a National Guardsman or Reservist.
WHO:	Congressman Akin will be joined by a self-employed Guard Member and a Reservist with a private dental practice who both have had to deal with the pressures of preserving their businesses and facing deployments to Iraq. Patrick Heavy, Director and Richard P. Grote, Chair of the Veteran’s Business Resource Center will also participate in the roundtable discussion.
WHEN:	Fontbonne University, Library-Board Room (First Floor)
WHERE:	July 6, 10:00 am
WHY:	Given the increased reliance on Reserve and Guard units as part of the overall force structure, consideration must be given to the unique pressures and difficulties faced by Reservists and Guardsmen leaving small businesses and private practices behind to serve for extended periods.